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Housing quality and mental health
G W Evans1, N M Wells, H Y Chan
1Department of Design and Environmental Analysis, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York 14853-4401, USA. gwe1@cornell.edu
Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology
|July 7, 2000
Summary
Poor housing quality is linked to worse mental health outcomes. This study developed a tool to measure housing quality and confirmed its predictive power for psychological distress.
Area of Science:
- Environmental Psychology
- Public Health
- Psychiatry
Background:
- Mental health is influenced by various environmental factors.
- Housing quality is a critical but often overlooked environmental determinant of health.
- Existing measures may not adequately capture housing aspects relevant to psychological well-being.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop and validate an observer-based instrument for assessing physical housing quality.
- To investigate the predictive relationship between housing quality and mental health.
- To explore potential psychosocial pathways linking housing quality to psychological distress.
Main Methods:
- Development and psychometric validation of a housing quality assessment tool.
- Two studies were conducted, including a prospective longitudinal design.
- Statistical analyses examined the association between housing quality scores and mental health indicators.
Main Results:
- A reliable and valid instrument for assessing housing quality was developed.
- Physical housing quality was found to significantly predict mental health outcomes.
- The findings support a direct link between housing conditions and psychological distress.
Conclusions:
- Physical housing quality is a significant predictor of mental health.
- The developed instrument provides a valuable tool for research and intervention.
- Addressing housing quality may be a viable strategy for improving population mental health.